Indiana University Athletics
Compliance Question Of The Week
Question 1 (Scenario):
Roger Starback, one of the nation's top high school quarterbacks, has verbally committed to play football at IU in 2005-06. Once he signs a National Letter of Intent during the football signing period (beginning February 2), is it permissible for IU to use his picture in a season-ticket brochure for football for the 2005 season?
Question 2 (Scenario):
Mary Spitz, a top swimming recruit from southern California in her junior year, is currently being home schooled. Would Coach Tierney be able to contact her in the month of April since she doesn't attend a high school (all sports other than football are allowed one contact with a junior prospect during the month of April at the prospect's educational institution)? If so, where could the one contact occur in this case?
Answer 1:
Yes, it is permissible for an institution to use a prospect's photograph in printed institutional items (e.g., season-ticket brochure) that promote a sport's season in which the prospect will participate as a student-athlete, provided the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent or the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid and the prospect's name or photograph is not used in any promotional items that involve the purchase or receipt of commercial advertising (e.g., season-ticket advertisement in newspapers or on a billboard). [OI 11/17/04]
Answer 2:
Yes, but for a home-schooled prospective student-athlete such as Mary, the contact during April of her junior year may only occur at her home. [OI 11/17/04]